Iranian Tycoon Owes Iran $2 Billion

Zanjani, who has referred to himself as an “economic basiji,” is a controversial businessman who owns various international companies, including an Iranian airline and a soccer team. He and his companies are sanctioned by both the European Union and the United States. When the US sanctions against him were announced in April, Zanjani bragged that it was “good publicity.”

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters yesterday that “Zanjani has not yet returned $2 billion in oil sales. He said the money has been deposited in his account, but the account has been blocked by the Americans.”

Today it was announced that a special parliamentary committee would convene to investigate the matter. Moussa Ahmadi, the head of parliament’s energy commission who announced the committee, said, “This issue has been investigated for some time, and has been on the agenda of the commission and has been performed confidentially.”